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British & Irish Lions: Stuart Hogg calls on tourists to win 'no-talent battles'

The Lions made a winning start in South Africa with a 56-14 win over the Sigma Lions on Saturday, but full-back Hogg focused on the defensive efforts which will be required in the Test series against the Springboks

Emirates Lions v The British and Irish Lions - The Vodafone Lions 1888 Cup - Emirates Airline Park
British & Irish Lions' Stuart Hogg in action during the Vodafone Lions 1888 Cup match at the Emirates Airline Park in Johannesburg, South Africa. Picture date: Saturday July 3, 2021.
Image: Stuart Hogg takes greatest pride in the Lions' defensive efforts

The British & Irish Lions aim to make a virtue of winning in-game moments that require determination over artistry, according to Stuart Hogg.

Warren Gatland's team swept aside the Sigma Lions 56-14 in their opening match on South African soil, but they were quick to concede that far tougher assignments await on a tour that culminates in a three-Test series against the Springboks.

Josh Adams amassed four tries and Hamish Watson starred as an unstoppable force at openside on an afternoon bursting with positives for the Lions, but captain for the match Hogg takes greatest pleasure in the appetite for the grittier work.

Lions ratings: Watson and Adams the standouts
Lions ratings: Watson and Adams the standouts

Pick through the player ratings from the British and Irish Lions' 56-14 opening tour victory vs the Sigma Lions in Johannesburg.

"At times we went to dark places," Scotland full-back Hogg said. "We made ourselves uncomfortable in the way that we were defending, the way that we were trying to attack.

"We wanted to win the no-talent battles, things that require no talent, and that's getting up off the deck and getting yourself back in the game and making it as difficult as we possibly can for the opposition.

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Highlights from the opening match of the British and Irish Lions' tour of South Africa as they faced Sigma Lions at Ellis Park

"At times we got that spot on, but for me the exciting thing is we can get better. We can get better individually and we can get better collectively. We want to be a formidable defensive unit because that will win you Test matches. We work incredibly hard and we want to be tough to beat.

"We want to be in positions to make dominant collisions, to get some turnovers and play on the back of it, so we want to work incredibly hard for each other. That will then give us an opportunity to then play with ball in hand, which for the likes of myself and the rest of the back three, that's when we come alive."

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We wanted to win the no-talent battles...and that's getting up off the deck and getting yourself back in the game and making it as difficult as we possibly can for the opposition.
Stuart Hogg

Adams pencilled his name into the Test team for the opener in Cape Town on July 24 on the strength of his finishing, but Hogg also advanced his claim to facing the Springboks as he thrived with the captaincy.

Dropped by Exeter Chiefs for their recent Gallagher Premiership semi-final and final, he was thrust into the Lions' starting XV at the first available opportunity and excelled on an afternoon of personal triumph.

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Lions head coach Warren Gatland was pleased to start the tour of South Africa with a 56-14 win over Sigma Lions and believes there is more to come from his side

"It was a terrific experience," Hogg said. "I absolutely loved the 80 minutes on the field and it's a really, really exciting time to be a part of this team."

The Sharks will provide a step-up in opposition when the Lions return to Emirates Airline Park on Wednesday with a XV containing squad members who have yet to start against Japan or the Sigma Lions.

British & Irish Lions: What the pundits said
British & Irish Lions: What the pundits said

Former Lions and Sky Sports pundits Sam Warburton, Ronan O'Gara and Sir Ian McGeechan run the rule over Saturday's win.

Injury permitting, an all-new back row of Josh Navidi, Tom Curry and Sam Simmonds will be in action. Scrum-half Gareth Davies, wing Anthony Watson, prop Zander Ferguson, hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie, prop Mako Vunipola, centre Elliot Daly and lock Adam Beard are also primed for their first starts.

Gatland's policy is to give every player a significant chance in the opening three games and only Ireland centre Robbie Henshaw is unavailable to face the Sharks as he recovers from a minor hamstring strain.

"We're not really trying to predict what a Test side looks like at the moment," Lions head coach Gatland said. "We're trying to let that unfold and see how the players keep performing and playing and seeing how the combinations work.

"Then we'll start looking at our options. We definitely don't want to pigeon-hole anyone. We're keeping an open mind about how we play and how we keep improving."

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